'Land of the free' locks up 2 million prisoners

February 15 marked the arrival of the two millionth prisoner 
in Amerikan prisons. This is just another landmark in the 
runaway incarceration in Amerika that helps the imperialists 
control the population. With a higher proportion of people in 
prison than any other country in history, the u.s. comprises 
5% of the world's population but has 25% of the world's 
prisoners.

The lockup craze in the united $tates hits the oppressed 
nations within u.s. borders disproportionately hard. One in 
three Black youth is in prison or on parole. And as MIM points 
out in every issue of Under Lock and Key, the u.s. imprisons a 
higher proportion of Blacks than even was found in Apartheid 
South Africa.

Yet in spite of these statistics, the presidential campaign 
again makes an issue of being tough on crime. George W. Bush 
proclaimed with pride his position in support of even harsher 
sentencing for drug offenses. In Texas under his governorship 
the prison population rose from 41,000 to 150,000, much of the 
rise from prosecution for drug possession. The Republicans are 
not alone in their crime crusades. Clinton has increased 
mandatory minimum sentences, put more cops on the streets and 
built more prisons. Both Democrats and Republicans trip over 
each other to declare themselves the toughest on crime. This 
position appeals to their settler nation constituents.

The united $tates spends $45 billion every year to hold 
prisoners in its dungeons. This money brings jobs to 
predominately white communities which have learned the 
economic value of the war on crime.

The "war on crime" is very popular with the white nation in 
the united $tates. The prison industry is the biggest employer 
after General Motors, with more than 523,000 employees. 
Locating prisons in rural communities has had a tremendous 
impact these areas, providing jobs for many white people. The 
export of prisoners from the cities led to a 5% growth in the 
population in rural areas over the decade between 1980 and 
1990.

The $45 billion spent on prisons is only a part of the money 
spent to control the Amerikan population. This number does not 
include the cost of an occupying army of cops, which spends 
its time in oppressed nation communities shooting down people 
like Amadou Diallo. This number also does not include the cost 
of the injustice system, which gives oppressed nations a trial 
by very partial juries and imposes harsh sentences for actions 
that the government of this country carries out daily without 
repercussion.

MIM marks the year 2000 and the incarceration of the 2 
millionth prisoner in the U.$. with our Under Lock and Key 
2000 campaign mobilizing both prisoners and people on the 
outside to fight the INjustice system. If you would like more 
information on setting up educational events in your area to 
build the ULK2000 campaign, contact us.

Note: Guardian (London), 15 February 2000.